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The Parkinson Alliance (Responsible for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, Team Parkinson, and DBS4PD.org) Joins Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council

The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s newly formed Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council will organize leaders from state, regional and national Parkinson’s organizations to represent the community and shape Parkinson’s policy priorities.

March 24, 2016/ -- In news of interest to Parkinson’s patients and families, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) have announced their intention to operate as a single organization to advance public policy priorities and better treatments for people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Key staff members and programmatic activity from PAN will transition to MJFF.

The Parkinson Alliance, the umbrella organization responsible for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, Team Parkinson, and DBS4PD.org, will continue contributing to the unified voice of Parkinson’s public policy as a member of MJFF’s newly formed Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council.

The Council comprises representatives from state, regional and national Parkinson’s disease organizations who provide input on field-wide policy priorities, ensuring continuation of a unified voice of the PD community on all public policy matters.

Todd Sherer, PhD, MJFF CEO, said, “The Parkinson’s research and care landscapes have changed significantly over the last decade, and as a result, so have the policy and advocacy priorities of people living with the disease. Input from the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council will help to ensure a well-informed approach to shaping programmatic activity in public policy on behalf of Parkinson’s patients and families.”

“The priorities of people with Parkinson’s define the work of both MJFF and PAN,” said Ted Thompson, president and CEO of PAN from 2014 to 2016 and incoming senior vice president of public policy at MJFF. “Working as a single entity, we can use our joint expertise to move the needle on policy issues that matter most for those living with the disease today.”

Learn more and read a white paper summarizing community feedback on top priorities for Parkinson’s public policy at www.michaeljfox.org/policy.